The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-01-07
THE ELOPEMENT.
Legend Of the Shore.

the happy summers OF my youthful
days in an old seaport town, whose
glory has long since departed. It's
fast decaying wharves had once echoed
to the tread of busy feet, and many
very stately ships had been moored
beside them.
Now, as in my childhood days, no
proud ships finds a haven in the still
waters of it's harbor; it's deserted ship
yards ring no more with the sound OF
IKE or hammer; the busy hum of COM
MERGE is stilled, and a silence, broken
only by the fsherman's call, or the
merry laughter ofsome yachting party,
pervades what was once a very busy,
thriving place.
But commerce has left traces OF
wealth behind, and l remember some
old fashioned, though stately houses,
standing neal the shore.
These were the homes OF some of
New England's famous sea captains,
and in one Of these old houses l passed
those happy summer days.
The men of the family had all been
sailors, commanding some fthe finest
and best known American ships. No
ports had been too distant for them,
and they had brought home, as gifts,
spoils from every cline. Now, all
dead and gone, the women ofthe fami-
ly lived alone, surrounded by treas
ures from over the sea.
The old friend who had charge OF us
was very fond of children, and was
never happier than when relating to
us the stories of sea and shore, with
which her mind was stored; and when
q rainy day came, driving us from
the beach, we likednothing better than
to listen to her charming legends.
will repeat to you as nearly as ]
can remember, the story of the
elopement that took place many
years ago. As / recall it, | seem to
hear again the musical voice, long
since hushed, to which the swapping 81
the wood fire upon the hearth, and the
distant booming of the surf upon the
beach, formed a fitting accompani
ment.
A long time ago, when / was a little
girl the events happened that / an
about to relate to you. My grand
mother knew all about it, and Iofter
heard her tell the story to the younI
folks, in my day, as ! am telling it tc
you.
In that large, old fashioned house
which stands on the brow of Beach
Hill, lived a very wealthy gentleman
called Judge Cuskman.
say he lived there, but he only
spent part of the year In the littl,
town Of S., for his business KEEP
him in the city during the wintel
months; but as soon as the warn
days came the house would be opened
and he would ride through the towr
In his big coach, drawn by four horses
and driven by a colored coachman.
The Judge was a widower, and lvee
alone with his servants and an ole
housekeeper. SO you may imagine th'
surprise Of the villagers oneday earlyiI
the spring Of 1912, when they heart
that Squire Cushman,as he was called
had brought home with him q lovely
young girl.
At first all thought that he haC
married again, but soon the report
was circulated that his niece hac
come from England alone, with only
maid to attend her, to visit him. AND
g long visit we all thought it would be
for war lad just been declared Will
Great Britain, and probably Their
would be no friendly intercourse be
tween the two countries for q lon
time.
Of course all were anxious to see TIL
new conner, but none were gratihet
until the following Sabbath, when sh
appeared at church with the oil
Squire.
She was q true English maiden, wit
fair hair and lustrous blue eyes, and
complexion IN which lilies and rose
were skillfuIly blended by nature
band. She was the observed OF a
observers, " but bore herself modestiy
seeming unconscious OF the gaze OF q
around her.
Many were the questions asked